Christmas-tree decoration



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THEODORE O. KNAUFF, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

CH RlSTMAS-TREE DECORATION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 237,026, dated January 25, 1881.

Application filed December 18,1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THEODORE O. KNAUFF, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, and Stateof Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Christmas-Tree Decorations, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings, in which-- Figures 1, 2, and 3 are views of the pieces of material from which the decoration is made. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the decoration. Fig. 5 is a top or bottom view thereof. Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate forms which the decorations may assume. I

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

My invention consists of ornaments or decorations for Christmas-trees formed of strips of thin paper orother suitable material, so cut that when they are suspended they twist and assumesomewhatspiral form anchbeinglight and airy, present, when white-in color, the appearance of streams of snow, and when formed in bunches 0r masses are fleecy and 'imitate balls and other figures of snow. Trees ornamented or decorated with the prepared strips present appearances which are tasteful and attractive, and suggestive of the season in which Christmas occurs.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a strip of thin paper, white tissue preferred, or other suitable material, which is cut or slit transversely on opposite sides, the slits of one side alternating with those of the opposite side, as at a a. In practice a large number of strips are cut at one operation. When the strip is suspended or held upright the weight of the strip serves to stretch the strip, and as the strip is weakened by the slits a a twist is imparted to the length thereof, and thus the form assumed by the strip is somewhat spiral, as shown in Figs. 4. and 5.

It will be seen that as the prepared strips are of thin material they are light and airy, and when applied to the tree present the appearance of streams, balls, or masses of snow, which vastly enhance the beauty of the tree, and suggest the winter-season,in which Christmas occurs.

The decorations may be attached to the tree in the form of festoons and pendants thrown carelessly or tastily arranged on the tree, or otherwise employed thereon, as desired, it being noticed that the spiral form of the strips prevents the closing or matting of the strips one on the other, and that the spiral form is increased by removing pieces of the strips in lieu of merely slitting them, thereby weakening the hold of the uncut portions and increasing the strain thereon, and consequently imparting greater twists to the strips.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The Christmas-tree ornament or decoration formed of a strip of thin material alternately slit on opposite sides, substantially as described, whereby a twisted or spirally-shaped length of material is produced, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

THEODORE G. KNAUFF.

Witnesses:

JOHN A. WIEDERSHEIM, A. P. GRANT. 

